Curved blade being used as ground shoe protecting the gravel inputs during the snow blowing

ABSTRACT

A ground shoe assembly for a snowblower being of the type having an auger and mounted to a tractor, which the ground shoe assembly is pivotally mounted on the snowblower so as to pivot about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the auger.  
     The means for pivoting the ground shoe assembly consists of an operative position comprising a first operating position where the ground shoe assembly is located rearwardly of the front opening of the snowblower frame during the rearward motion of the snowblower mounted to the tractor, and a second operating position where the ground shoe assembly is located frontwardly of the front opening of the snowblower frame during the forward motion of the snowblower mounted to the tractor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the invention:

[0002] This invention relates to a ground shoe assembly for a snowblower being of the type having an auger and mounted to a tractor, which the ground shoe assemby is mounted on the snowblower so as to pivot about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the auger.

[0003] 2. Description of the related art:

[0004] A search of prior art records has unveiled the following patents:

[0005] 1. U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,341 issued in 2000 to Gummerson;

[0006] 2. U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,781 issued in 1986 to Shwayder;

[0007] 3. U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,635 issued in 1984 to Shwayder; and

[0008] 4. U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,042 issued in 1983 to Cosson.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] According to the present invention, there is disclosed a ground shoe assembly for a snowblower mounted to a tractor, which the snowblower being of the type comprising:

[0010] means for moving the snowblower forwards or backwards;

[0011] a frame having a front opening, two side portions, and an auger located within the frame behind the front opening;

[0012] means for driving in rotation the auger; and

[0013] means for ejecting snow out of the frame and away from the snowblower.

[0014] The ground shoe assembly is pivotally mounted on the snowblower so as to pivot about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the auger comprising:

[0015] a) a blade having a concave surface; and

[0016] b) means for pivoting the ground shoe assembly between an operative position and an inoperative position.

[0017] The blade includes a protective plate mounted to the bottom of the blade, and an interchangeable cutting edge releasably attached to a leading edge of the blade to protect the blade from gravel or debris during the snowblowing operation.

[0018] Further, the blade also comprises two curved sides fixed at each end, which are fixed at a first end to the blade perpendicular to a horizontal axis of the blade and pivotally attached to the snowblower frame at a second end.

[0019] The means for pivoting the ground shoe assembly comprises a first set of components including a hydraulic cylinder attached to a structural body fixed to the snowblower frame adjacent to a first end of the blade and curved side.

[0020] Further, the first set of components also comprises a moving part attached at one end to the hydraulic cylinder and pivotally engaged at another end by engagement means between a cylindrical housing on the structural body and an inner part of the structural body, and which the engagement means joins the moving part to a lever mechanism connected to an arm attached to one of the curved sides.

[0021] The activation of the hydraulic cylinder moves the moving part, the corresponding lever mechanism and the arm to engage the ground shoe assembly from the operative position to the inoperative position and vice versa.

[0022] Further, the means for pivoting the ground shoe assembly comprises a second set of components including a second hydraulic cylinder, a second structural body, a second moving part, a second lever mechanism and a second arm configured similarly to the first set of components which are located adjacent to a second end of the blade and curved side, symmetric to the first set of components.

[0023] The operative position comprises a first operating position where the ground shoe assembly is located rearwardly of the front opening of the snowblower frame during the rearward motion of the snowblower mounted to the tractor, and a second operating position where the ground shoe assembly is located frontwardly of the front opening of the snowblower frame during the forward motion of the snowblower mouted to the tractor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0024] Having thus generally described the nature of the present invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof and in which:

[0025]FIG. 1 is a perspective side view showing a ground shoe placed in an operative position;

[0026]FIG. 2 is a perspective side view showing the ground shoe placed in an inoperative position;

[0027]FIG. 3 is a perspective top view of the ground shoe assembly;

[0028]FIG. 4 is a perspective bottom view thereof; and

[0029]FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the components in position for assembly.

NUMERICAL REFERENCES OF THE ILLUSTRATED ELEMENTS

[0030] Snowblower (1)

[0031] Curved side (2)

[0032] Blade (3)

[0033] Arm (4)

[0034] Hydraulic cylinder (5)

[0035] Structural body (6)

[0036] Moving part (7)

[0037] Lever mechanism (8)

[0038] Cylindrical housing (9)

[0039] Cylindric part (10)

[0040] Squared shaft (11)

[0041] Cup grease (12)

[0042] Protective plate (13)

[0043] Interchangeable cutting edge (unnumbered)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] Now referring to the accompanyings drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 5, there is shown a ground shoe assembly for a snowblower (1) being of the type having an auger and mounted to a tractor (not shown), which the ground shoe assembly is pivotally mounted on the snowblower (1) so as to pivot about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the auger.

[0045] The ground shoe assembly comprises a blade (3) having a concave surface, and means for pivoting the ground shoe assembly between an operative position and an inoperative position.

[0046] The blade (3) includes a protective plate (13) mounted to the bottom of the blade, and an interchangeable cutting edge (unnumbered) releasably attached to a leading edge of the blade to protect the blade from gravel or debris during the snowblowing operation.

[0047] Further, the blade (3) also includes two curved sides (2) fixed at each end, which are fixed at a first end to the blade (3) perpendicular to a horizontal axis of the blade and pivotally attached to the snowblower frame at a second end.

[0048] The means for pivoting the ground shoe assembly comprises a first set of components including a hydraulic cylinder (5) attached to a structural body (6) fixed to the snowblower frame (1) adjacent to a first end of the blade (3) and curved side (2).

[0049] Further, the first set of components comprises a moving part (7) attached at one end to the hydraulic cylinder (5) and pivotally engaged at another end by engagement means between a cylindrical housing (9) on the structural body (6) and an inner part of the structural body (6), and wherein the engagement means joins the moving part (7) to a lever mechanism (8) connected to an arm (4) attached to one of the curved sides (2).

[0050] The activation of the hydraulic cylinder (5) moves the moving pan (7), the corresponding lever mechanism (8) and the arm (4) to engage the ground shoe assembly from the operative position to the inoperative position and vice versa.

[0051] Further, the means for pivoting the ground shoe assembly comprises a second set of components including a second hydraulic cylinder (5), a second structural body (6), a second moving part (7), a second lever mechanism (8) and a second arm (4) configured similarly to the first set of components which are located adjacent to a second end of the blade (3) and curved side (2), symmetric to the first set of components.

[0052] The operative position comprises a first operating position where the ground shoe assembly is located rearwardly of the front opening of the snowblower frame during the rearward motion of the snowblower (1) mounted to the tractor, and a second operating position where the ground shoe assembly is located frontwardly of the front opening of the snowblower frame during the forward motion of the snowblower (1) mounted to the tractor.

[0053] Accordingly, while the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1-4. (canceled)
 5. A ground shoe assembly for a snowblower (1) mounted to a tractor, said snowblower being of the type comprising: means for moving said snowblower (1) forwards or backwards; a frame having a front opening, two side portions, and an auger located within said frame behind said front opening; means for driving in rotation said auger; means for ejecting snow out of said frame and away from said snowblower; said ground shoe assembly pivotally mounted on said snowblower (1) so as to pivot about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the auger comprising: a) a blade (3) having a concave surface; and b) means for pivoting said ground shoe assembly between an operative position and an inoperative position; characterized in that: said blade (3) has a protective plate (13), said plate (13) mounted to the bottom of said blade (3); wherein said blade (3) also comprises an interchangeable cutting edge (14) releasably attached to a leading edge of said blade (3) to protect said blade from gravel or debris during the snowblowing operation.
 6. The ground shoe assembly according to claim 5, wherein said blade (3) has two curved sides (2) fixed at each end, said curved sides (2) are fixed at a first end to said blade (3) perpendicular to a horizontal axis of said blade (3) and pivotally attached to said snowblower frame at a second end.
 7. The ground shoe assembly according to claim 6, wherein said means for pivoting said ground shoe assembly comprises a first set of components comprising a hydraulic cylinder (5) attached to a structural body (6) fixed to said snowblower frame (1) adjacent to a first end of said blade (3) and curved side (2).
 8. The ground shoe assembly according to claim 7, wherein said first set of components farther comprises a moving part (7) attached at one end to said hydraulic cylinder (5) and pivotally engaged at another end by engagement means between a cylindrical housing (9) on said structural body (6) and an inner part of said structural body (6), said engagement means joining said moving part (7) to a lever mechanism (8) connected to an arm (4) attached to one of said curved sides (2).
 9. The ground shoe assembly according to claim 8, wherein activation of said hydraulic cylinder (5) moves said moving part (7) and said corresponding lever mechanism (8) and said arrn (4) to engage said ground shoe assembly from said operative position to said inoperative position and vice versa.
 10. The ground shoe assembly according to claim 9, wherein a second set of components comprising a second hydraulic cylinder (5), a second structural body (6), a second moving part (7), a second lever mechanism (8) and a second arm (4) configured similarly to said first set of components are located adjacent to a second end of said blade (3) and curved side (2), symmetric to said first set of components.
 11. The ground shoe assembly according to claim 10, wherein said operative position comprises a first operating position wherein said ground shoe assembly is located rearwardly of said front opening of said snowblower frame during the rearward motion of said snowblower (1) mounted to said tractor; and a second operating position wherein said ground shoe assembly is located frontwardly of said front opening of said snowblower frame during the forward motion of said snowblower (1) mounted to said tractor. 